Dhaka: Bangladesh's interim government has set up a hotline asking people to report attacks on Hindu temples, churches or any other religious site. The move comes amid reports of vandalism of religious places, business establishments and properties of minorities after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country to India. The minority Hindu population has been targeted in the violence that continued for several days after Sheikh Hasina stepped down. Properties belonging to minorities have been looted, and several temples have also been destroyed. 

A notification has been issued.

The daily newspaper 'Pratham Alo' reported that the Ministry of Religious Affairs has requested to provide information about attacks on places of worship. Quoting a notification issued by the ministry, the report said, "If miscreants attack any temple, church or any other religious place, then it is requested to report it on the helpline number." 

Muhammad Yunus reached Dhakeshwari temple.

Meanwhile, interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus visited a historic Hindu temple in Dhaka and assured Hindu community leaders that establishing human rights and freedom of expression is one of his key goals. "Everyone has equal rights in the country. There is no discrimination among us. Please help, be patient and judge us later on what we did and what we did not do. If we fail, then criticise," Yunus told media at the Dhakeshwari temple. 

'The system needs reform'

Adviser on legal and religious affairs of the interim government Asif Nazrul and AFM Khaled Hossain also accompanied Yunus to the temple. "In our democratic spirit, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists, but as human beings. We should be aware of our rights and claim them. The root cause of all problems is the weakness of institutional systems, that is why such problems arise. There is a need to reform the institutional system," Yunus said in the presence of Bangladesh Puja Utsav Parishad president Vasudev Dhar and general secretary Santosh Sharma